“They were in the process of extracting a dog that had fallen 15 stories, I understand, and was trapped in a wall,” said veterinarian, Dr. Spencer Ratnoff, about the call he received from firefighters.

The Maltipoo had apparently fallen from the 16th floor and landed on a piece of concrete in the pipe chase on the second floor.

The veterinarian said the owner was visiting a friend whose apartment was undergoing some construction work.

“The wall was open and the dog had inadvertently gotten too close to that opening and that opening went straight down to the ground floor so the dog fell 15-16 floors and landed on a concrete pad at the bottom of the floors so we didn’t have high hopes that this dog was going to be alive,” said Dr. Ratnoff.

In order to retrieve the small dog, firefighters cut holes into the second floor and got the dog to safety.

The dog was rushed to the Animal Emergency Trauma Center at the Oakland Park Animal Hospital by ambulance and arrived in shock.

“I did put dog on IVs that stabilized dog from trauma and then we ran some diagnostic tests and x-rays to see the extent of the injuries,” said Ratnoff. “And the miracle of miracles is the dog has sustained as few injuries as it has – some lacerations but no broken bones and no serious internal injuries.”

Dr. Ratnoff said he was thrilled to be able to tell the dog’s owner that Susie will be okay.

“It’s actually a type of emotional support dog so her world revolves around this dog and when this dog got into this situation her world was severely affected, so I can’t tell you how happy it is to save any life, but certainly to save a life that is such a vital part of someone’s life,” said Dr. Ratnoff. “Literally she said when I worked and saved the dog that I saved her life as well.”